The Herald

Dear Nova Classical Academy Upper School Families,

We've officially kicked off the second quarter of the school year!

Next week, we're are looking forward to two key events: Give to the Max Day, and Conferences -- Thursday, November 16 (in-person) and Monday, November 20 (virtual).

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• Monday, 11/20: No School-Conferences (virtual)
• Tuesday, 11/21: No School-Professional Development for Staff
• Wednesday, 11/22, to Friday, 11/24: No School-Building Closed (Observed Holidays)

As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your support of our students and staff. Your engagement and partnership play an invaluable role in creating a positive and nurturing educational environment for our students. Thank you.

Warmest regards,

Mrs. Paschall

Welcome to Deme Williamson as the 2023-24 Student Representative to the School Board.

October Students of the Month

Congratulations to our Upper School scholars for demonstrating excellence in justice:

• 6th Grade: James Hayton
• 7th Grade: Tyler Roskowitz, Clair Midlo, Alice Meath
• 8th Grade: Imogen O’Brien
• 9th Grade: Brianna Lopez-Arrianga
• 10th Grade: Rosemary Skeps, Taylor Miller

Congratulations to our Upper School scholars for demonstrating growth in either justice or academics:

• 7th Grade: Trinity Tift, Sophia Seleshi
• 11th Grade: Luella Burkhardt
• 12th Grade: Desire Negron

Activities

• Congratulations to the JV Debate Team for winning the Farmington Invitational and to Stephen Ma for earning the distinction as the 2nd Best JV speaker and William Irish for earning 4th Best Novice Speaker.
• Hats off to our talented students in the Drama Club and the SoR Choir for their outstanding performances. Their dedication, hard work and talents truly shone through, making these performances a huge success!

Athletics

• Kudos to Isabel Pass for earning All-State honors for finishing in 7th place at the State Cross-Country Meet. What a fantastic accomplishment!
• Congratulations to the Girls and Boys Cross-Country Teams for finishing in 6th place and 16th place respectively the at the State Meet.
• Cheers to the Girls Volleyball for placing 2nd at the Section Finals.

With conferences for Grades 6-12 beginning this evening , our Instructional Leadership would like to offer a couple of considerations for our families.

First, midterm grades are available for viewing on the Infinite Campus parent portal. If you have any issues logging into Infinite Campus, please contact Ms. Michelle Ingram at mingram@novaclassical.org.

Second, if you would like to set up a virtual conference with Ms. Voelker, School Counselor (Grades 8-12), please use this calendar link.

Thank you for your continued support for your child and our school.

Dates of Conferences:

• Thursday, November 16, 2023, 4:30-8 PM, in person only

• Monday, November 20, 2023, 8 AM-4 PM, virtual only

• Please note that all Special Education conferences will be virtual

• All conference slots are 12 minutes long and will be booked through PickATime

Link to sign-up for Conferences was made available on October 30. Appointments for Monday's virtual conferences will remain open until Friday, 11/17.

Has your student achieved something remarkable beyond the classroom? Have they been honored with a special medal or award? Have they made a positive impact in their community or achieved something else extraordinary?

Kindly provide us with the details by completing and submitting this form. Your student could be recognized in our morning announcements, student assembly, staff newsletter, or in The Herald.

With the return of cooler temperatures, we've noticed some departures from our established uniform guidelines. To reinforce these expectations and provide some clarifications, please note the following:

• Shoes are to be solid colors (i.e. white, black, brown, gray).
• Dress or athletic shoes or ankle-height boots may be worn.
• Crocs, clogs, slippers, slides, flip flops may not be worn.

• Sweatpants/joggers may not be worn under skirts or as uniform pants.
• Leggings may be worn (only when worn under skirt) and should be ankle-length and not baggy.
• Tights may be worn (only when worn under skirt) and must be plain (no patterns).

Upper School Uniform Guidelines may be found HERE.

If you were unable to join us for the College Information Night presentation by College Inside Track, you may connect with them via their website. They will be able to share with your the major changes to the college process in 2023-24 If you have any questions, please email 8th-12th Grade Counselor, Mikayla Voelker: mvoelker@novaclassical.org

What is Give to the Max? Give to the Max is a statewide outpouring of support for thousands of nonprofits and schools across Minnesota! On Give to the Max Day, we’ll have extra fun with incentives, donation matches, community prizes, and more! So, stay tuned to our social media channels for details. If you would like to make a larger contribution, we love matching funds! Please contact Ms. Gabor at vgabor@novaclassical.org with any questions.

Early giving started on November 1, and continues through midnight on November 16. This year, we are raising funds to support our inclusive environment that provides each student the resources, support, and academic challenge needed to reach the highest levels of academic excellence. Learn more about our goals on our Give to the Max page and help our community by making a donation and helping us spread the word.

Thank you for all you do to support our scholars and our school!

Homework help is available for Upper School students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4 PM to 5 PM. Homework support is provided by an Upper School Teacher and Educational Assistant.

Students may report to Room 326 at 4 PM. Students should be picked up from school at 5 PM.

Get ready to make a difference! Join the National Honor Society in their Dimes for Disasters fundraiser, kicking off on November 28. Support the Maui Humane Society's relief efforts for animals affected by Hawaii's wildfires with your donations. Please contact NHS Advisors, Ms. Seal or Ms. Strand for more information. Thank you for your support.

THANK YOU to all of the parents and staff that volunteered their time and energy to making our Great Gatherings Kick-Off Party a success! Thank you for attending the party, hosting an upcoming gathering, helping with planning and organizing the event, or contributing in any way! It truly takes a group effort, and we appreciate your support!

There is still time to join in the fun!

12/3: All-School Free Ice Skating event from 3:10-5:10 PM at the Charles Schulz Arena

Dodgeball Champs bragging rights are on the line! Pizza and snacks will be provided

SoL Dodgeball and Dinner

When: December 27, 2023 6 - 8 pm
Where: Nova Gym and Great Hall
Who: Students grades 6-8

Cost : $25/per student

Click HERE to register.

SoR Dodgeball and Dinner

When: December 28, 2023 6 - 8 pm
Where: Nova Gym and Great Hall
Who: Students grades 9-12

Cost: $25/per student

Click HERE to register.

Front Row tickets for Upper School Choir Concerts

• December 14, 2023 SoL Concert 4 Front Row Tickets: Click HERE to purchase.
• March 4, 2024 SoR Concert 4 Front Row Tickets: Click HERE to purchase.
• May 15, 2024 SoR Concert 4 Front Row Tickets: Click HERE to purchase.

The next NPTO meeting will be held on December 5 at 4:15 PM.

Follow NPTO on Facebook, Instagram, or visit their website for more information!

Winter basketball is fast approaching. Please check out the opportunities we have for students in grades K-12 here at Nova.

Boys Hockey Co-op (Grades 9-12) registration remains open until November 17, 2023 @ 4:00 PM. This is a Co-op with St. Paul Academy and Summit School. All practices are held at St. Paul Academy and Summit School. Parents are responsible for all transportation to practices and matches.

Volunteer to help at NPTO events such as Fall Conference meals for teachers or winter treats! Please click here to browse and sign up for opportunities.

All volunteers must have an up-to-date background check on file. Apply to volunteer with us, today!

Libraries open doors for reading, research, and resources! Through our LibraryGo partnership with the St. Paul Public Library (SPPL), all students have active library cards that can be used to check out up to 5 books and materials, and to access their online databases. Help your student use their account online or at checkout at one of the 14 SPPL branches. The account number is:

Nova Classical’s school number (2209190300) + (your child’s 4-digit lunch PIN number)

Password: Your child’s birthday written MMDDYY, for example, January 26, 2012 would be 01262012

If you have questions about this program, contact Ms. Gabor at vgabor@novaclassical.org.

Have you ever wondered if it is an A, B, or C Day? Can't remember when picture day is? Subscribe to our calendar to always be in the know! Click the link here for instructions to add our calendar to your personal calendar.

November:

16: GIVE TO THE MAX DAY!

16: K-12 Evening Conferences @ 4:30-8:00 PM

17: Fall Color Day (Grades 6-12 can wear Fall colors with uniform bottoms)

20: No School (Conferences K-12)

21: No School (Staff Professional Development Day)

22-24: No School (Building Closed)

27: Board of Directors Meeting @ 6:00 PM

December:

3: K-12 FREE Ice Skating Party hosted by NPTO @ 3:10-5:10 PM

5: NPTO Meeting @ 4:15 PM

14: SoL Concert @ 7:00 PM

20-29: No School (Building Closed)

January:

1-2: No School (Building Closed)

3: No School (Staff Work Day)

9: NPTO Meeting @ 4:15 PM

15: No School (Building Closed)

22: No School (Staff Work Day)

29: Spring Club Registration Opens

29: Board of Directors Meeting @ 6:00 PM

See Full Calendar